gadgets, geeks, technology, internet, social media

April 7th, 2011

Published by: VR-Zone

VR-Zone.com | Stuff for the Geeks!

VR-Zone | Stuff for the Geeks is a bi-weekly publication covering the latest gadgets and stuff for the geeks.

The Daily VR-Zone News Summary - 7 April 2011 Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/the-daily-vr-zone-news-summary--7april-2011/11455.html April 7th, 2011

Series coolers and I really like the new mounting system for the pump/coldplate Description: Toshiba is replacing its current 32nm process flash chips with 24nm SmartNAND: flash with on-chip error correction. The new chips will have faster controllers and deliver faster read and write speeds, although no numbers have been supplied.

Description: Even though it is well known that Advanced Micro Devices has strong intentions to start commercial shipments of its FX-series code-named "Zambezi" microprocessors based on Bulldozer micro-architecture, the intrigue remains when exactly the company formally introduces new chips and reveal its levels of performance.

Consumer Electronics and Software news

In today's news roundup: • GIGABYTE G1.Assassin (Intel X58 Express) gaming motherboard review; • Toshiba introduces small but SmartNAND chips; • Google to finance $100 million worth of original programs for YouTube ; • Sophisticated cyber thieves behind Epsilon attack; • Sony PlayStation Portable holiday release may be dDelayed by Japan disaster, and • SEGA today unveiled a teaser trailer for a new Sonic game.

Hardware news Description: This board is the G1.Assassin; part of the G1 Killer line-up. When you pick this board up you get an X58 chipset, a Creative labs X-Fi audio card and a Killer NIC built onto the board. You all get this for US$529.99 on NewEgg.com which comes in a little less than buying the parts separately.

Description: The Sapphire Radeon HD 6790 sits in that entry gamer market. The Radeon 6790 looks to edge out the competition with increased performance. It features a 840MHz core clock, 1050MHz memory clock, 800 Stream processors, and 40 texture units. Onboard there is 1GB of DDR5 memory with a 256-bit interface.

Description: With the Rampage III Black Edition, ASUS has a new flagship in its portfolio. This board embodies the further development of the already very successfull Rampage III Extreme. The new kid on the block will try to win gamers and overclockers hearts with a very extensive delivery and lots of features.

Description: The Hydro Series from Corsair has been king of hill for pre-built sealed kits since it came out. It seems that with Antec teamed up with Asetek now in the cooler market the hill now belongs to them. With that being said, the H60 is a good cooler. It is well built, quieter than previous Hydro

Description: The Xoom Android tablet and Atrix smartphone are being called out as poor performers, despite heavy marketing campaigns launched by Verizon Wireless and AT&T, respectively.

Description: Google plans to create 20 special channels on its YouTube site, and will spend $100 million to create original programming to populate them.

Description: Moody's cut its credit rating on Nokia, citing the Finnish mobile phone company's weakening market position and uncertainty over its transition to Microsoft's Windows Phone software.

Description: An online marketing firm hit by what may be one of the biggest data thefts ever was the victim of "highly sophisticated cyber thieves," according to its parent company.

Alliance Data Systems Corp. also reiterated that only the names and email addresses of customers were stolen in the attack on its subsidiary, Epsilon, and not credit card information or social security numbers.

Description: Chrome already has a "Safe Browsing" mode, which Google said "has done a lot of good for the Web," but there is still plenty of harmful content floating around on the Internet.

Description: In this review I’ll be taking a look at a really unusual set of Gaming headgear called the ISURUS in-ear gaming headset. Thermaltake have taken the headset era to another level by giving the end user the option of using a sleeker in-ear headset that won’t over time give you that uncomfortable ache you can have using a bulky traditional designed headset Gaming news

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Description: Atari Greatest Hits includes Pong for free, and includes 99 games from the Atari 2600 and arcade system for purchase. By Jared Newman, Technologizer You may now count Atari among the classic video game systems to find a home in the iOS App Store.

major resellers and e-tailers at MSRPs of US$71 (16Gb), US $140 (32Gb), and US$235 (64Gb) in Japan.

Description: The new PlayStation Portable, dubbed “NGP,� may be introduced in a single region this year instead of starting sales in Asia, Europe and the U.S. in time for the end-of-year holiday shopping season, said Jack Tretton, president of Sony Computer Entertainment of America, citing production problems related to the March 11 disaster.

Nexus Debuts SM-8000 Silent Mouse

News via [Softpedia]

Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/nexus-debuts-sm-8000-silentmouse/11827.html April 7th, 2011

Description: So you've got an iPad or your shiny new iPad 2 and come to the dawning realisation that you've no cash left to buy any games for it.

Description: SEGA today unveiled a teaser trailer for a new Sonic game slated for release later this year for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The video, which originated on SEGA's official Sonic Facebook page this morning, doesn't reveal much about the gameplay, only that it may feature both the old and new generation of Sonic characters.

Green House Announces PicoDrive F3 USB 3.0 Flash Drive

Nexus Technology has unveiled the SM-8000 Silent mouse, featuring a patented design that eliminates all clicking noises when you press the buttons. Measuring 117 x 76 x 42mm, it has five buttons, an optical sensor, an auto power save mode, and connects to the PC via a 2.4 GHz wireless Nano receiver.

The SM-8000 operates on two AAA batteries and is expected to start shipping soon.

NEXUS PRESS RELEASE

Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/green-house-announces-picodrive-f3usb-3.0-flash-drive/11828.html April 7th, 2011

Tokyo-based Green House has unveiled the PicoDrive F3 flash drive series. Measuring 73.2 x 19.75 x 9mm and weighing 13.5g, they sport a USB 3.0 interface and deliver data transfer rates up to 120 Mb/s (read) and 80 Mb/s (write).

Nexus Technology introduces the SM-8000 Silent mouse. No more clicking noise. After several requests to introduce a bigger brother for the SM-7000 we now introduce you the SM-8000, a big 5 button silent mouse. The Nexus Silent Mouse SM-8000 is an advanced 2.4G wireless optical mouse, which connects to your PC, Mac or laptop with a super small nano receiver and has a total of 5 silent buttons. Beside the regular 3 buttons this mouse have two extra buttons on the side which makes it easy browsing forward and backward.

Tokyo-based Green House has unveiled the PicoDrive F3 flash drive series. Measuring 73.2 x 19.75 x 9mm and weighing 13.5g, they sport a USB 3.0 interface and deliver data transfer rates up to 120 Mb/s (read) and 80 Mb/s (write). Available in 64Gb, 32Gb and 16Gb capacities, they are available from

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Patented Switch Technology The switches we have used for the Silent Mouse have a patented construction and lack the clicking sound when you press them.

Published by: VR-Zone

all models meet both the European Energy Using Products Directive (EuP) and The American Energy Star 5.0 standard.

The units run quietly and emit extremely low levels of interference.

You will be amazed how much more relaxing it is when you get rid of this useless sound in your working environment.

Specifications •

Advanced 2.4Ghz wireless technology

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Nano receiver (included)

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39 channels

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16 bits mouse

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5 buttons

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Auto Power save mode

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Red sensor light

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2x AAA batteries (included)

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11.7x7.6x4.2 cm

For more information please check this page.

A-Data Launches BN Series PSUs Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/a-data-launches-bn-seriespsus/11826.html April 7th, 2011

An interesting aesthetic touch on what is often a bland system component is the patented design pattern on the laminated steel shell. The innovative surface coating process yields an attractive textured appearance.

Features: •Wattage: 400/450/500/550W •Active PFC •ATX12V Ver.2.3

A-DATA Technology, well-known for their DRAM modules and flash memory products, has introduced the BN Series PSUs. Available in 400W, 450W, 500W and 550W capacities, these 80Plus Bronze PSUs feature a laminated steel enclosure, active PFC, two 12V rails, a MTBF of 100,000 hours, and are cooled by a 120mm fan. The ADATA BN Series PSUs, compliant with ATX12V Ver.2.3, EuP and Energy Star 5.0, are available through selected distributors.

ADATA Technology, a leading manufacturer of highperformance DRAM modules and NAND Flash application products, today announced the launch of its latest series of power supply for personal computers. The BN Series is targeted towards consumer and professional users who are looking for economical solutions in energy efficient power.

With 80 Plus Bronze certification, the BN series offer up to 85% efficiency, while the 95% Active Power Factor Correction (PFC) minimizes power loss. The series comes in four wattage models to meet a wide range of individual user needs, and

•Meets EuP and Energy Star 5.0 •80 PLUS (Bronze) •Low Ripple & Noise •PCI-E Connectors •Textured laminated surface Availability ADATA BN Series power supply units are now distributed through selected distributors and resellers. More information about ADATA BN Series power supply unit can be found on the company's website.

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Zowie Gear Introduces G-TF Speed Mousepad Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/zowie-gear-introduces-g-tf-speedmousepad/11825.html April 7th, 2011

Zowie Gear has refreshed its G-TF mousepad (released 2009) with the announcement of the G-TF Speed. Measuring 440 x 320 x 2mm, the gaming pad boasts a newly designed rubber base for more stablity, a liquid-resistant surface for smooth gliding and easy maintenance, and triple-stitched rolled edges for durability and comfort. The G-TF Speed is compatible with all mice and is expected to start shipping in June 2012.

ZOWIE GEAR PRESS RELEASE

First things first. The G-TF speed will not replace the G-TF. We have been receiving a lot of requests to develop a surface which was faster than the G-TF and took up the challenge. Due to the popularity of the G-TF, we decided to use the same unique waterproof texture in the G-TF speed and improve on specific details.

On August 17th 2009 we announced the innovative G-TF mousepad which we had developed in cooperation with Abdisamad ‘SpawN’ Mohamed. As a groundbreaking addition to the mousepad market, the G-TF provided competitive gamers around the world with the edge they needed to stay on top of their game.

The G-TF combined flexibility, comfort and size of the clothpads with the unique texture of plasticpads, resulting in a unique mousepad with a large and comfortable mousingarea as well as low friction allowing for swift and precise movements. To increase the overall durability and quality of the mousepad, the G-TF was created using 100% natural rubber and the edges were stitched to prevent them from fraying – all of these features were unique and specifically developed for the G-TF. Amazed by the outstanding performance of the G-TF, this clothpad was soon to become the preferred mousepad of many competitive and casual gamers around the world. Today the G-TF is a sure sight at all of the competitive LAN’s and tournaments worldwide.

Not only is the G-TF speed faster than the G-TF, it also have a newly developed unique base, which allows for a firm flat suction to the table and makes the mousepad thinner, making it ideal for gamers who has been using plasticpads and are now looking for something a bit more flexible. The G-TF speed is for those gamers who want it all – comfort, flexibility and swift performance.

With that being said, we are happy to introduce the G-TF speed, yet another innovative addition to the ZOWIE GEAR product portfolio.

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Staying true to our motto, we are always striving for perfection, even if it’s a matter of improvement of just 1%. We believe this 1% is what makes the difference in competitive gaming.

The G-TF speed will be available medio 2011.

Features * The speed edition of the popular G-TF – faster than ever * Newly designed rubber base for increased stability * Liquid resistant surface allows for easy maintenance * Triple-stitched edges preventing fray and increases the lifetime of the pad * Rolled edges for added comfort while playing * 100% compatible with all types of mice * Perfectly oversized for gamers & designers: 440 x 320 x 2mm/ 17.3 x 12.6 x 0.08" Sign up at our Facebook page, for a chance to win this awesome pad once it is released: www.facebook.com/ZOWIEGEAR

Cisco launches Linksys E4200 Maximum Performance DualBand Wireless-N router Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/cisco-launches-linksys-e4200maximum-performance-dual-band-wireless-n-router/11824.html April 7th, 2011

Now that more residential areas are getting the upgrades needed to access to the Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network (aka NGNBN), it should come as no surprise that getting an aftermarket router to share the ultra high-speed connection is going to be a top priority. And if you are willing to spare no expense in ensuring that your router does not end up being the bottleneck to this new network, Cisco is only all too keen to sell you its new E4200 Wireless-N router, which it officially launched in a media event held in the Infocomm Experience Centre located at Esplanade Xchange.

VR-Zone brings you the coverage.

It is a well known fact that the words 'Singapore' and 'fast, seamless and hassle-free' are seldom (if ever) used together in the breath or sentence when the state of the country's broadband network is brought up for discussion, and for good reason. With most existing home and mobile broadband providers boasting robust networks that never fail to operate at a fraction of their advertised speeds, it should be little surprise that locals often take pride in competing to see which ISP offers the lowest average network speeds.

Thankfully, this dismal state of affairs is about to change now that the Next Generation National Broadband Network (NGNBN)is upon us, and most of us are in the midst of getting their fibre termination point installed as we type this story out.

Of course, in an ideal world, things such as ISP or hardware bottlenecks would not exist, except that the real world is seldom as forgiving. And while ISP bottlenecks are definitely going to stay, users have the capability to prevent hardware bottlenecks from taking place, and this is precisely what Cisco is aiming to eliminate with its new Linksys E4200 Wireless-N router, which was officially launched today.

In his opening address, Craig Gledhill, vice president of Cisco Consumer Products for Asia Pacific and Japan, described how the new E4200 router will enhance a user's online experience when used in conjunction with the upcoming NGNBN infrastructure.

"Cisco is a big supporter of the NGNBN, and we think that this is a great initiative by the government. Cisco has been involved in this project, and as technology vendors, we want to bring new technology to take advantage of the NGNBN. The product we are launching today, the E4200, is a top-of-therange router that has been getting great reviews, and it is the kind of device you'd want to put next to your LED TV," he said.

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Accompanying him was Cisco System's head of consumer products for Asia Pacific and Japan, Jaimohan Thampi, who proceeded to describe some of the new features and usability upgrades consumers can take advantage of in the new Linksys E4200 Wireless-N router.

Darwin can keep his evolutionary theory; we are more interested in Cisco's 'router design evolution' specimens "The need for bandwidth and capabilities is only going to grow in homes. With Singapore being one of the frontrunners in technology...network speeds have skyrocketed. And people are going out to buy cheap, affordable routers that are just not able to keep up with the expectations of the network. In such cases, the router has become the throttling point. We want to market a product that is capable of delivering tomorrow's experience...without the complexity of trying to get it to work," he said, while adding that these are issues which the new Linksys E4200 router is fully capable of solving.

"The E4200 router is our maximum-performance, dual-band router today. The Linksys E4200 is designed for speed and is capable of transfer speeds of up to 450Mbps under the 5.0GHz band. It is also Home Theatre-ready, which means that it is capable of delivering high-definition, 3D content, and back up digital files. Cisco connect (also removes) the complexity element; setting up a connection is now as easy as one two three," he claimed.

Cisco Connect; Easy as 1, 2, 3 indeed. Three windows and you're done; notice that the E4200 sports the ability to set up a guest network with the click of a button.

Fujifilm unveils new FinePix Z900EXR compact digital camera Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/fujifilm-unveils-new-finepix-z900exrcompact-digital-camera/11822.html April 7th, 2011

Fujifilm has unveiled their new FinePix Z900EXR compact digital camera designed with new image sensor that is capable of shooting full high definition videos and automatically detect up to 27 different scenes.

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The Z900EXR is the latest addition to Fujifilm's portfolio of Finepix compact digital cameras that features a multi-touch display, new image sensor and the capability to capture videos in full high definition (HD). The 16-megapixel camera also offers high dynamic range and improved battery life and can perform full resolution continuous shooting of three frames per second.

The Finepix Z900EXR is equipped with a 5x wide-angle, 28-140mm (35mm equivalent) Fujinon zoom lens and can automatically detect up to 27 different scenes including sunsets and blue sky. At the rear is the 3.5-inch touchscreen LCD display with multi-touch capabilities. The camera can also record full 1080p high definition videos at 30 frames per second in H.264 file format. Available in black, red, white, pink and blue options, the Finepix Z900EXR will retail from May at US$279.95.

Google planning to introduce 'channel' system to YouTube?

Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/google-planning-to-introduce-channelsystem-to-youtube-/11821.html April 7th, 2011

Sure, YouTube may have the world's most comprehensive, up-to-date repository of movies, home-made video clips and other kinds of media files, but it appears that Google is still trying to find a way to position YouTube as a source of media that will eventually be as ubiquitous as existing television networks. And according to bits of information claimed by various insider sources, it seems that Google's approach might be to revamp the portal into the web equivalent of a TV network.

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suddenly ceases to operate, and it will take a long time for an alternative solution to fill the void it will leave behind.

However, it also appears that Google is not content about YouTube just being a gigantic repository of videos for users to view online. Apparently, the search giant has always been harbouring plans of making YouTube much more ubiquitous in the average user's lifestyle, we have seen how Google TV was probably the first example of the search giant's long term goals for YouTube. But even that is not enough, and various sources familiar with Google's dealings are claiming that the company is setting up YouTube to go head to head against the likes of TV network operators in order to keep people hanging around the video portal for longer amounts of time.

According to a report made by the Wall Street Journal, the online video streaming service is now focusing on acquiring new content in the way most TV broadcast and cable networks will; by offering to sponsor or fund the production of content specially designed for online viewing. The search giant has also reportedly set aside a staggering US$100million just for this purpose. It is speculated that such an approach has greater potential in successfully winning over producers to produce Youtube-exclusive content, as opposed to striking licensing deals with video and content distributors.

In addition, Google is YouTube's home page which will supposedly of various genres for purposes.

also reportedly planning to revamp by introducing a 'Channels' system allow users to sort between videos easier classification and searching

Last but not least, the Wall Street Journal also claims that Google is planning to integrate social networking features into YouTube, and that such features are likely to be introduced together with the new Channels system so that viewers will have a comprehensive package of new features in the revamped YouTube portal.

For more information about Google's plans for YouTube, hit up the source link below.

Acer refreshes Timeline X product line with new models featuring Intel's Sandy Bridge Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/acer-refreshes-timeline-x-product-linewith-new-models-featuring-intel-s-sandy-bridge/11820.html April 7th, 2011

It does not take much to convince most web-savvy users that YouTube is probably one of, of not the most popular source of online videos in the world today. After all, most web users will be hard pressed to find a similar alternative video hosting service that offers the same kind of depth, reach and variety as what Google's YouTube is currently capable of. In fact, it is probably no exaggeration on our part when we say that the global online video scene would grind to a halt if YouTube

Until very recently, Acer was the only major notebook OEM which had yet to update its entire product line with models that featured Intel's new Sandy Bridge platform. However, if you have been waiting all this while for a low-priced notebook that packs the latest specifications from the likes of Acer, today is going to be your lucky day, for Acer has finally rolled out what the world has been waiting for: its own line of Sandy Bridgepowered notebooks under the Timeline X banner. Talk about a 7

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classic example of 'better late than never' being put into action in the real world. *UPDATED with local prices!

Well, that sure took Acer long enough. While major notebook OEMs such as HP, Lenovo and Fujitsu have already had notebooks powered by Intel's Sandy Bridge platform out for retail on the market for quite some time already, Acer was conveniently absent from the Sandy Bridge race, for reasons unknown to all but its own internal departments.

However, those who have been patiently awaiting the day Acer will eventually unveil an updated line of notebooks featuring the new Sandy Bridge platform will probably have much to look forward to. This is because Acer has finally delivered what the world has been waiting for, and it comes in the form of four new Timeline X models: the Acer Aspire Timeline X 3830TG-2312G64nbb01, 3830TG-2412G64nbb02, 4830TG-2412G64nbb01 and 5830TG-2412G64nbb01.

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a trait which appears to greatly reduce the appeal of the 15inch 5830TG. Unfortunately, the notebooks are currently only available for sale in Taiwan, so budget-conscious consumers here in sunny Singapore seeking an Acer-branded notebook featuring Intel's Sandy Bridge platform will probably have to wait a little longer before these notebooks finally pop up for sale in our local computer stores. That being said, here are some prices for comparative purposes: the 13-inch 3830TG is currently retailing in Taiwan for NT32,900 (NT37,900 for the i5 version), while the 14-inch and 15-inch 4830TG and 5830TG are selling for the same price of NT39,900. *UPDATE: a reader has updated us with information that Acer's Sandy Bridge notebooks are already available for sale locally at discounted prices. The Timeline X 3830TG is currently selling for S$999 (S$1,398 for the Core i5 version), while the 5830TG costs S$1,298, and the 4830TG is already retailing for the price of S$1,598. Last but definitely not least, there are two additional models, the 14-inch 4750G and the 15inch 5750, which feature Intel's Sandy Bridge platform but will not be sold under the Timeline X banner. The 4750G features an Intel Core i3-2310M processor and an NVIDIA GeForce GT520M graphics card and is selling at the discounted price of S$849, while the 15-inch 5750 makes use of the Core i5-2410M processor and onboard graphics, and is currently discounted for sale at S$899.

Apple to introduce its own proprietary version of USB3.0 and DisplayPort?

Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/apple-to-introduce-its-ownproprietary-version-of-usb3.0-and-displayport-/11819.html April 7th, 2011

No prizes for guessing the model number for this particular Timeline X notebook According to an online report published by the Chinese branch of Engadget, all three new Sandy Bridge-powered Timeline X notebooks will feature near identical hardware specifications: the 13-inch 3830TG-2312G64nbb01 will come bundled with an Intel Core i3-2310M processor clocked at 2.1GHz, an NVIDIA GeForce GT540M graphics card which sports 2GB of VRAM, 2GB of system memory, a 640GB hard disk and USB 3.0 ports capable of 'independent charging'.

On the other hand, the other 13-inch 3830TG model, along with the 14-inch 4830TG and 15-inch 5830TG loses the Core i3-2310M processor more a more powerful Intel Core i5-2410M processor clocked at 2.3GHz, which is capable of achieving speeds of up to 2.9GHz under Turbo Boost.

However, all other specifications remain identical, which means that both the 4830TG and 5830TG will feature the same GT540M graphics card, 640GB hard disk and USB3.0 ports found in the 3830TG. And to top that off, all three notebooks will sport the same display resolution of 1366 x 768,

Once again, leave it to Apple to throw existing standards out of the window by choosing to implement its own ports which attempt to combine two interfaces into a single “hybrid port�.

And according to the latest patent awarded to the Cupertino giant, it seems that the next 'hybrid port' that is expected to debut on future Apple hardware will be capable of delivering both USB3.0 and DisplayPort signals.

Although USB3.0 and DisplayPort are interfaces which cater to very different needs, the basis for their design are completely identical; they are both standard interfaces which have been designed to facilitate the transfer of digital content from various electronic devices. And everybody knows how important standards are to our daily computing needs; that is the main reason we do not have to fiddle with cumbersome adaptors when it comes to dealing with various standard expansion and I/O ports found in our PCs today.

That being said, at least one OEM has a fond preference for doing everything its way and tossing out popular existing 8

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Published by: VR-Zone

standards in the process, and it should come as no surprise that Apple is now attempting to do the same with USB3.0 and DisplayPort today. According to a patent which was only recently awarded to Apple, it seems that the Cupertino giant has plans to create an entirely new “hybrid port� which is reportedly capable of delivering both DisplayPort and USB3.0 signals in a single package.

Of course, with this being Apple we are talking about, it probably goes without saying that such an interface is going to be an Apple-exclusive, just like how the current line of iPods, iPads and iPhones all feature proprietary charging ports even though the micro-USB interface has already been recognized internationally as the standard port to be used for mobile devices.

Based on what we are able to understand from the patent filings, the hybrid port will feature a 30-pin connector, of which the various signal types each pin will transmit is shown in the patent illustration below.

Feel free to hit up on the source link for more information about the patent and its implementation.

Microsoft's Bing Streetside to launch in Germany, compete with Google's Street View Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/microsoft-s-bing-streetside-to-launchin-germany-compete-with-google-s-street-view/11818.html April 7th, 2011

Also, based on illustrations of the device's physical dimensions, it can be inferred that Apple might plan to implement this new hybrid port on mobile devices such as its line of iPods, iPhones and iPads first. This is due to the fact that the port's capability to deliver both USB3.0 and DisplayPort signals means that it greatly reduces the amount of space needed to feature dedicated ports for such highly mobile devices, where sufficient real estate for implementing additional I/O ports are a luxury. That being said, Apple does mention that the port may eventually find its way to desktop and notebook PCs.

Microsoft is planning to launch the Streetside feature of their Bing map service in Germany, competing head on with Google's Streetview. If everything goes well, the service could be up this coming summer.

While Google may have Street View, Microsoft has their Bing Streetside. And the Streetside service is coming to Germany.

Google Street View cars had been accused of collecting data from open Wi-Fi spots and networks without authorization, and the search engine giant has admitted to the wrongdoing.

To avoid similar thing from happening, Microsoft officials have met with industry associations, political representatives and privacy advocates. The software company will begin photographing 50 major cities in Germany and the service will be available for use to the public by the end of May 2011.

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A website will be launched next Friday with detailed information on the routes the camera cars will take while they take the pictures, and with many people who do not want their homes to be shown on Streetside, Microsoft will have to find ways to tackle this issue for the Bing Streetside service. The Bing Streetside is scheduled to go live in summer this year.

MSI E350IA-E45 AMD Brazos Platform Review Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/msi-e350ia-e45-amd-brazos-platformreview/11417.html April 7th, 2011

In this article, we will explore the performance of the recently launched AMD Brazos platform - more specifically MSI's implementation with the E350IA-E45 Mini-ITX motherboard, which is worth a consider as a home theatre PC (HTPC) due to its small physical size and low power consumption.

AMD Fusion is the marketing name for a series of Accelerated Processing Units which was announced to be in development since 2006. The final design is the product of the merger between AMD and ATI, combining feneral processor execution as well as 3D geometry processing and other functions of modern GPUs into a single chip. This technology was shown to the general public in January 2011 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

In today's review, we will explore the performance of the recently launched AMD Brazos platform - more specifically MSI's implementation, which is worth a consider as a home theatre PC (HTPC) due to its small physical size and low power consumption. However, small size and low power consumption does not mean poor performance, as recent Mini-ITX systems have demonstrated.

Intel Z68 chipset pricing lower than expected Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/intel-z68-chipset-pricing-lower-thanexpected/11817.html April 7th, 2011

By now we're within a month or two at the most from the launch of Intel's upcoming high-end Sandy Bridge chipset, the Z68 and we've gotten some new details ahead of the launch via the grapevine. It's all good news, although we have as yet not

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managed to pin-point the actual launch date which is the final piece of the puzzle.

By now we're within a month or two at the most from the launch of Intel's upcoming high-end Sandy Bridge chipset, the Z68 and we've gotten some new details ahead of the launch via the grapevine. It's all good news, although we have as yet not managed to pin-point the actual launch date which is the final piece of the puzzle.

As you may or may not have read, Intel has added support for SSD caching in the Z68 chipset and so far it's been known as RST SSD caching, not exactly a sexy name for what at least for Intel is a new technology, so the company's PR department came up with a better one – Smart Response. It's at least a catchier name, even though it actually says less about the actual technology, but that's what marketing and PR is for, right? If you want a preview of how well it works or not, we suggest you head over to Tom's hardware that put up an early preview a while back. Smart Response still requires that you own an SSD of course, although even a fairly small one would be good enough.

However, the really good news is that Intel decided to lower the price of the Z68 chipset to a price point much closer to that of the current P67 chipset. This should hopefully result not only in a lot more affordable Z68 boards, but also a wide range than many of the board makers initially planned to offer. That said, Intel hasn't officially revealed the pricing of its P67 chipset so any actual pricing is a bit hard to deduce and we're currently unable to reveal the price difference, but it's much smaller than what earlier rumours have suggested.

As soon as Intel has gotten its Sandy Bridge and Westmere-EX Xeon CPU launch out of the way, we'd expect that they'll start preparing the launch of the Z68 chipset, unless they've decided to hold it back until Computex. Otherwise the best and most likely launch even would be IDF Beijing which kicks off on the 12th of April, but none of the keynotes or technical sessions seems to suggest that we're looking at a Z68 platform launch at IDF.

The Daily VR-Zone News Summary - 6 April 2011 Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/the-daily-vr-zone-news-summary--6april-2011/11452.html April 7th, 2011

In today's news roundup: The elusive P67-totting Quantum Force Rattler motherboard from Foxconn has finally be taken out for a review; Techspot performs a short comparison of various entry-level, budget and mainstream-level graphics cards from the likes of both AMD and NVIDIA; Toshiba is reportedly planning to launch a new notebook featuring a glasses-free 3D display sometime in the second half of 2011; 10

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Samsung's Prevail smartphone gets a hands-on; AIKA SEA has been confirmed for an April 12 launch, and Dragon Quest X is reportedly close to completion, and that an official announcement regarding the game's launch can be expected sometime at the end of the year.

complete backwards compatibility to USB 2.0 and 1.1, while the U3e adds eSATA connectivity to the mix. Whether you need blazing USB 3.0 and eSATA transfers, or connectivity to an older machine, the ZM-HE350 U3 and U3e have you covered.

Hardware news

Noctua NH-C14 CPU Cooler Review @ Bigbruin.com Description: Noctua has developed a reputation for high quality components, backed up by countless awards from reviews published around the world. Downdraft coolers have been manufactured in the past, however few have been able to stand up to the larger tower coolers. The NH-C14 shows that Noctua knows what they are doing in this field.

Foxconn Quantum Force Rattler P67 Motherboard Review @ Vortez Description: Rumours surrounding the Quantum Force Series having a new P67 addition have been circulating around the internet for many months now, and today we finally get our hands on a motherboard named Rattler which incorporates that Intel P67 chipset.

GIGABYTE HD 6970 OC 2GB Review @ OCAU Description: A unique technology featured on GIGABYTE's motherboards has come to graphics cards in the form of the Ultra Durable VGA technology banner. This includes a 2oz copper design for a lower working temperature and a reduction of hotspots, better overclocking and better power efficiency, as well as Japanese solid capacitors, Tier 1 memory from Samsung and Hynix, as well as quality Ferrite Core chokes and MOSFETs adding to the benefits of the 2oz copper design. You'll find the majority of non-reference GIGABYTE graphics cards sporting this logo, while SuperOverclock (SOC) cards feature the Ultra Durable VGA Plus+ logo.

Top Budget to Mainstream Graphics Cards Description: The last few months we've seen both AMD and Nvidia turn their attention to the high-end segment of the graphics market. In addition to launching their latest singleGPU flagship boards, both companies just recently launched a couple of dual-GPU beasts. We have to say it's great to see such spirited competition as it's usually customers that reap the benefits. That's especially true today as mainstream cards are getting more and more powerful and even a $100 product is capable of far more than you may give it credit for. So, while AMD and Nvidia settle the score at the super expensive enthusiast level, we actually want to have a look at what's been happening elsewhere. We've compiled a table with some of what we consider the best options at several price points between $70 and $200.

Xigmatek Gaia SD1283 CPU Cooler Review @ Tweaknews Description: Xigmatek's Gaia SD 1283 CPU cooler has it all covered. It's got outstanding cooling performance, a diminutive acoustic footprint, a distinctive look, an innovative direct touch design and a robust yet easily installed mounting solution.

Fractal Design R3 Case Review @ ITShootOut.com Description: Today ITShootOut take a look at Fractal Design's R3, an affordable case designed for ultra-quiet PCs. As we found out, however, it is far from a one trick pony. With excellent design features, great build quality and very good cooling performance its one of the best contemporary cases on the market today Zalman ZM-HE350 U3 and U3e External HDD Enclosure Review @Hi Tech Legion Description: The Zalman ZM-HE350 U3 and U3e External HDD Enclosures are all about flexibility. The Zalman ZMHE350 U3 offers a USB 3.0 SuperSpeed connection, with

Seagate GoFlex Slim 320GB USB 3.0 Hard Drive Review @ Legit Reviews Description: The Seagate GoFlex Slim 320GB portable drive caught us a little off guard when it arrived. We weren't sure what to expect, but in the end we found ourselves pleasantly surprised to find a portable drive that was fast, lightweight, small and looked good. Usually, you can't find a way to blend all those features together without making sacrifices along the way, but that doesn't appear to be the situation we have here today. In order to take full advantage of this drive you really need to have a USB 3.0 interface! With CrystalDiskMark we saw the GoFlex Slim 320GB drive peak at ~120MB/s read and ~118MB/s write, so if you've been using a USB 2.0 drive and are stuck at ~31MB/s write speeds you'll see nice performance gains!

Thermaltake Frio OCK CPU Cooler Review @ OCIA.net Description: We first saw this cooler on display at CES 2011 in the suit that Thermaltake was set up in. The Frio OCK is the refreshed version of Thermaltake's top Frio cooler. With OCK standing for “Over Clocker King,” it wasn’t hard to determine the target market here. We are actually a little surprised to see it released as our rep said it might not make it to market due to a cost prohibitive construction.

ASUS GTX 590 Review @ ocaholic Description: With the GTX 590 ASUS also has the NVIDIA dual GPU flagship in its portfolio. This card is based on the reference design except that ASUS marginally increased GPU and memory frequencies to get a very small advatage over their competitors. Never the less we're curious how this thing will perform in our benchmark parcours.

Antec Kuhler H20 620 CPU Cooler Review @ Real World Labs Description: With the latest Kuhler H20 620 Antec has made a strong come back in CPU Cooling not only because of the unit's excellent cooling efficiency but also because of its small size, low-profile pump, flexible tubings and killer price tag.

Prolimatech Genesis Review @ XSReviews.co.uk Description: Prolimatech is known for high-end air cooling heatsinks like the Megahalems, Armageddon and Super Mega. The Genesis is supposedly a hybrid processor and motherboard cooler and in this review we’re going to see whether Prolimatech’s hybrid is any good.

Consumer Electronics and Software news Acer Aspire 5830T TimelineX: Evolution Through Time @ InsideHW

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Description: It’s been a while since we met the last representative of the new, promising series of Acer notebooks - Timeline. The elegant lines, good performance and recognisable design were accompanied by excellent battery autonomy and a reasonable price, which made these models very attractive. This time around, it’s another “sinking” Acer’s Aspire 5830T, from the new TimelineX generation. The recognisable ground aluminium lid with a silver Acer logo is present here as well. Besides the fact that pressure on the lid causes no display distortion, the aluminium surface also provides additional ruggedness and strength to the notebook.

The sharp lines are usually indicative of business models, but Acer has used a small trick - all edges are rounded or mildly tilted against the surface they’re facing, which makes the new TimelineX models much more attractive to a wider number of customers…

Toshiba unveils 2011 product range – entertainment, wherever you are Description: Toshiba UK today announces its 2011 product range, including the first CEVO Engine powered TV, 3Denabled Satellite laptops, brand new Blu-ray players and two new Camileo high definition camcorders. Toshiba also today announces Toshiba Places, a cloud-based portal that enables users to access and share content across a variety of devices.

Toshiba to launch glasses-free notebooks in 2H 2011 Description: According to Digitimes, Toshiba plans to launch glasses-free laptops in 2H 2011. Toshiba actually demonstrated a prototype 3D laptop in CES 2011, called the Qosmio. It had a parallax-barrier LCD (with one viewpoint) and an eye-tracking camera.

Western Digital My Book 3.0 1TB USB 3.0 External HDD Review Description: The Western Digital My Book 3.0 is a sleek enclosure around two inches wide and seven inches tall. The top, bottom and back are vented to allow air to flow over the internal drive, but the front and sides have a matte black finish.

When the drive is powered a tiny white LED glows to show that the system is actually powered on. Western Digital needed some way to show that the drive was powered on since the My Book 3.0 is silent from just a few inches away. On the back you will find a single button to power the enclosure on and off."

HTC Pyramid to launch on April 12th under the name of HTC Sensation?

Description: When HTC extended an invitation our way to come "see what's next" on April 12th in London, plenty of you were already guessing that its long-rumored 1.2GHz Pyramid device would seize that opportunity to make its debut. Now Pocket-lint has apparently confirmed those inklings, with word from an insider affirming the new Android smartphone's launch for that day and also adding that its retail name will be the HTC Sensation. HTC has already filed a claim to trademark that tandem of words, which lends an extra dash of credence to this revelation.

Acer Aspire Z5761 touchscreen all-in-one packs Core i7 and NVIDIA GPU Description: Acer has outed its latest all-in-one, the 24inch Acer Aspire Z5761. Built around a choice of Intel Core i5-2400S, i5-2500S or Core i7-2600S processors along with up to 8GB of RAM, the touchscreen desktop promises home

Published by: VR-Zone

entertainment and even some gaming potential thanks to a range of discrete NVIDIA GPUs to choose from.

Hands on: Samsung's Prevail smartphone on Boost Mobile Description: Confirming several leaks, Boost Mobile has formally unveiled its latest smartphone, Samsung's Prevail handset, at a special event in New York City. The device represents the carrier's flagship smartphone, which will be sold alongside several BlackBerry offerings and the aging Motorola i1. Electronista attended the introduction to take a closer look at the new device, which may prove to be one of the most attractive smartphones paired with contract-free data plans.

Gaming news AIKA SEA To Launch On April 12 Officially Description: AIKA SEA will be opening its servers officially on 12th April at 4pm (GMT+08h), and here are some answers to questions that Asiasoft have put up for AIKA SEA with regards for CBT users.

Dragon Quest X almost done, announcement 'by the end of this year' Description: Series creator Yuji Horii announced Dragon Quest X, in development for Wii, at a press conference in December 2008. And that was the last anyone heard about it until the April 2011 issue of Nintendo Power. The subject came up in an interview feature about "Dragon Quest through the Ages," when Horii stated that it's nearing completion.

Next Black Ops Map Pack Leaked Description: An Australian retailer has leaked the first details on the second map pack for Call of Duty: Black Ops, which will be called the Escalation Pack.

Mach Xtreme Debuts 1.8" MXMDS micro-SATA SSD Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/mach-xtreme-debuts-1.8-mx-mdsmicro-sata-ssd/11816.html April 7th, 2011

Mach Xtreme Technology has expanded its line-up of flash storage devices with the introduction of the MX-MDS Series SSDs. The compact 1.8" SSDs, based on the powerful SandForce SF1222 processor, feature a micro-SATA interface, MLC flash memory, 30,000 IOPS (Input/ Output Operations Per Second), a MTBF of 1,500,000 hours, and supports data transfer rates up to 285 Mb/s (read) and 275 Mb/s (write). The MX-MDS series, covered by a two year warranty, are available in 40Gb, 60Gb, and 90Gb capacities at MSRPs of €135, €165, and €220 respectively.

MACH XTREME PRESS RELEASE

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Available in capacities of 40GB, 60GB and 90GB, Mach Xtreme Technology MX-MDS SSDs comes backed with 2 Year Warranty and outstanding after-sales service.

MX-MDS Series 1.8" SSD at A Glance: •1.8" SATAII micro-SATA MLC Solid State Drive •Max. Read Performance up to 285MB/s (40GB up to 220MB/ s)

\Mach Xtreme Technology Inc., a worldwide leader in top performance, high reliability and user friendly designed PC components, today unveiled the 1.8"micro-SATA MX-MDS Series SSD. Based on the best-in-class SandForce SF1222 controller, the 1.8" MX-MDS Series delivers an enhanced mobile computing experience with much faster application loading, ultra-fast data access, shorter boot-ups, and longer battery life of all laptops with micro-SATA interface.

•Max. Write Performance up to 275MB/s (40GB up to 210MB/ s) •Sustained Write up to 230MB/s (40GB up to 120MB/s) •IOPS up to 30,000 •Power consumption: idle 0.5W / active 2.0W •Life expectancy 1.5 million hours MTBF •Capacity: 40GB (MXSSD2MMDS-40G), 60GB (MXSSD2MMDS-60G) and 90GB (MXSSD2MMDS-90G) •Warranty: 2 Years

Cooler Master Unleashes HAF 932 Advanced Case Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/cooler-master-unleashes-haf-932advanced-case/11815.html April 7th, 2011

This series maintains the highest level of read and write performance though the life of the SSD. Highly intelligent block management and wear leveling optimizes longevity of MX-MDS series drives. The MDS series supports DuraClass, DuraWrite and unique RAISE technologies. DuraClass technology provides best-in-class endurance, performance, and low power. DuraWrite technology extends the endurance of MLC memory providing at least 5 year lifecycles with 3-5K cycle MLC flash. RAISE provides the protection and reliability of RAID on a single drive without the significant write overhead.

Cooler Master has unveiled the HAF 932 Advanced Case, further expanding its HAF series of chassis first introduced in 2008.

The MX-MDS drive delivers best-in-class read and write speeds clocking in at up to 285 MB/s read and 275 MB/s write along with the stunning maximum of 30,000 IOPS and low power consumption (stand-by 0.5W / active up to 2.0W) and superior durability (1.5 million MTBF) compared to rotating hard disk drives.

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Cooler Master has unveiled the HAF 932 Advanced Case, further expanding its HAF series of chassis first introduced in 2008.

Measuring 243 x 560 x 564mm and weighing 13.4kg, the toolfree, all-black full-tower case features six exposed 5.25" bays, five 3.5" HDD racks with anti-vibration pads, seven expansion slots, two rear holes for water-cooling tubes, a front-side I/O panel with four USB 2.0 ports, one IEEE 1394a, one eSATA, and audio connectors, and two USB 3.0 ports (via a 5.25" panel). The HAF 932 Advanced comes pre-installed with four fans (x1 front 230mm LED fan, x1 top 230mm, x1 230mm side, & x1 rear 140mm) is available now through major retailers and e-tailers at a MSRP of US$159.98.

Chieftec Announces Nitro 88+ PSUs Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/chieftec-announces-nitro-88psus/11814.html

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April 7th, 2011

Chieftec Industrial, manufacturer of numerous PC chassis and PSUs, has launched the Nitro 88+ series PSUs. Available in 650W, 750W, 850W, and 1,000W capacities, these 80Plus Silver-certified PSus are fully modular and boast a single 12V rail, sleeved cables, active PFC, a MTBF of 100,000 hours, and are cooled by a 140mm PWM fan. The Nitro 88+ can be pre-ordered now from authorized e-tailers at MSRPs of €112.05 (650W), €120.61 (750W), €158.87 (850W) and €198.97 (1,000W).

News via [Techpowerup]

MSI releases R6790-2PM2D1GD5 graphics card designed for overclockers Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/msi-releases-r6790-2pm2d1gd5graphics-card-designed-for-overclockers/11813.html April 7th, 2011

According to MSI, the latest version of MSI Afterburner is capable of increase a graphics card's overclocking potential by as much as 25%, thanks to its support for voltage adjustments to the card via software means. Additional features found in the updated release of MSI Afterburner includes the version 2.0 of the Kombustor software used to test for overclocking stability, and a new video capturing tool known as Predator, which allows OC-ers to record in-game videos during the benchmarking process.

To ensure that gamers and enthusiasts do not burn out their cards when subjecting them to intense loads for benchmarking purposes, the R6790-2PM2D1GD5 comes with what MSI claims is a new cooling system for the GPU. By utilizing three copper heat pipes kept in direct contact with the GPU, along with a 90mm PWM fan, MSI's design supposedly provides better airflow, which results in a more efficient cooling system that reportedly 50% more effective than the reference design.

Last but definitely not least, the MSI R6790-2PM2D1GD5 utilizes solid, aluminium core capacitors which are said to be much more durable than the typical electrolyte capacitors; this supposedly allows the R6790-2PM2D1GD5 to "achieve perfect operation under all load circumstances".

Specifications of the card as as follow:

MSI has launched the new R6790-2pm2D1GD5 graphics card for the enthusiast market. According to the Taiwanese manufacturer, the new graphics card is reportedly capable of "meeting the needs of gamers and professionals" thanks to the use of various features designed to enhance the card's overclocking capabilities.

Graphics Engine Bus Standard Memory Type Memory Size(MB) Memory Interface Core Clock Speed Memory Clock Speed DVI Output D-SUB Output

MSI has announced in a press release today that it has launched its new R6790-2PM2D1GD5 graphics card based off the recently-released AMD Radeon HD 6790 GPU. The R6790-2PM2D1GD5 will feature 1GB of dedicated VRAM, support for overvolting via the MSI Afterburner tool, as well as Eyefinity support, which allows for a single graphics card to simultaneously drive multiple displays.

HDMI-Output Mini DisplayPort HDCP Support HDMI Support Dual-link DVI Display Output (Max Resolution) RAMDACs DirectX Version Support

AMD Radeon HD 6790 PCI Express x16 2.1 GDDR5 1024 256 bits 840MHz 4200MHz Single-Link DVI-D x1, DualLink DVI-I x1 1 (optional, via DVI to D-Sub adaptor) 1 2 Y Y Y 4x 1920x1200 400 11 15

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OpenGL Version Support 4.0 CrossFire Support Y Card Dimension(mm) 245 x 115 x 35mm As it has always been with regards to MSI press release, no information about pricing and global availability for the R6790-2PM2D1GD5 has been revealed yet, so do check back for updates.

Release of Internet Explorer 9 for Japan delayed due to earthquake Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/release-of-internet-explorer-9-forjapan-delayed-due-to-earthquake/11812.html April 7th, 2011

Published by: VR-Zone

According to a news report, Microsoft has confirmed that the launch of Internet Explorer 9 in Japan will be delayed in order to assist the country's recovery efforts. The browser, which was originally slated for a March 15 launch, will now be postponed to April 26: this delay will reportedly help to reduce additional burden on Japan's quake-damaged network infrastructure. This means that Japanese users will not be able to obtain official builds of Internet Explorer 9 either via direct downloading of the installer binaries or through Windows Update until the aforementioned date.

Alternatively, you can play the role of the good friend and assist your Japanese friends by sending them your downloaded binary of Internet Explorer 9. Of course, you'd want to make sure that they are using of the English version of Vista or Windows 7; we don't want to add to their burden by wrecking their Windows installation now, do we?

Another x86 tablet PC shows up in China If you make use of Microsoft's Internet Explorer as your primary web browser for the daily Internet surfing needs, chances are that you will have already made the jump to Internet Explorer 9 in order to take advantage of the various new features IE9 has to offer. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of IE users and fans in Japan, as Microsoft Japan has decided to delay the browser's release date in light of the recent disaster that rocked the country a few weeks ago.

Barely a couple of months ago, the mere mention of the words 'Internet Explorer' is more than enough to trigger wave after wave of criticism about Microsoft's ageing web browser, for rather obvious reasons. After all, it cannot be denied that Internet Explorer has been known to not only be a resource hog, but also as a security nightmare due to various security holes and its use of ActiveX. And to top that off, IE is also often ridiculed as the slowest browser currently in use, a trait which is not exactly the most forgiveable considering how every second matters in the digital world we live in today.

However, much of that changed with the introduction of Internet Explorer 9, with many media organizations giving Microsoft's new browser favourable reviews, especially in areas where performance and support for web standards are concerned. Unfortunately, it seems that Microsoft's plans to encourage the adoption of Internet Explorer 9 has hit a snag in crisis-hit Japan.

Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/another-x86-tablet-pc-shows-up-inchina/11810.html April 7th, 2011

With iOS and Android wiping the floor where mobile operating systems are concerned, one might be tempted to think that there is little hope left for Microsoft's and its Windows 7 OS to carve out its own share of the mobile device pie. However, it appears that a Chinese OEM in Shenzhen does not share the same view, and the announcement of its upcoming x86 tablet running off Windows is probably the best proof of that.

Most people may be quick to shun Windows 7-based tablets in favor of alternative devices powered by Google's Android operating system, or Apple's iOS, and for good reason. Even at its best, Windows 7 and its overlaying user interface was designed to be used with a precision pointing tool such as a mouse or stylus; anything else will definitely result in a suboptimal user experience. And this issue is further complicated by the fact that installing said OS on devices with small display resolution do no favours for Windows' already touchunfriendly interface.

However, it appears that not all OEMs are ready to give up on Windows-based tablets just yet, and this latest announcement from a certain Shenzhen-based manufacturer appears to back that claim. Apparently, the manufacturer, which is known as G'Five, has claimed that it plans to launch a new x86 tablet known as the WisPad some time in the "immediate future", and that Windows will definitely come bundled on the device.

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Flip Video announces new FlipShare with social features and mobile apps for iPhone, iPad and Android devices Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/flip-video-announces-new-flipsharewith-social-features-and-mobile-apps-for-iphone-ipad-and-androiddevices/11809.html April 7th, 2011

According to online sources, the WisPad GFT97A will be sold to global OEMs and carriers for rebranding, although G'Five is reportedly thinking of introducing its own retail brand in order to sell the WisPad directly to the Chinese domestic market, with an option for BTO if need be.

That aside, not much detail about the elusive WisPad has been revealed by G'Five. What we do know is that the WisPad will feature an Intel Atom N455 processor and a 9.7-inch capacitive touchscreen, although the actual display resolution is still a mystery. In addition to that, G'Five has also revealed that the WisPad features 1GB of system memory, while storage is provided via an optional SSD capable of capacities of up to 16GB or 32GB. Last but not least, the tablet also appears to be designed with the style-conscious in mind, as it sports a full aluminium body and a relatively thin profile with its maximum height of 14mm.

New social and video sharing capabilities have been added to the latest Flip Video's FlipShare software, and the maker has also announced the new mobile app for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Android devices.

Cisco’s Flip Video has announced their new FlipShare software that comes with social and video sharing capabilities as well as FlipShare Mobile apps for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Android devices. Users will be notified of the available upgrade automatically in this month when they open the FlipShare application, or they can go to FlipShare.com to download it.

No pricing information for the WisPad has been announced yet; however, given the fact that the device will eventually be sold under a different brand name, chances are that its price will vary greatly between various OEMs. Oh, and one more thing: G'Five has reportedly confirmed that the actual production model will feature the ability to dual boot between both Windows and...yes, you guessed it, an x86 port of Android. Now we are talking.

The FlipShare software, which comes with every Flip video camera, now has enhanced video sharing capabilities. The new software includes FlipShare Groups for users to share videos more securely with friends and family. After creating a FlipShare Group, users and their friends can access their videos from FlipShare.com and through the FlipShare Mobile apps that are now available for iPhone, iPad and Android devices. Within FlipShare Groups, users can comment, read and post messages on each other’s videos and Groups.

Compatible with both Mac and PC computers, FlipShare allows contacts to be imported directly from Gmail, Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo and AOL address books so users can easily create address books for sharing videos.

New Features for FlipShare: - Create and manage FlipShare Groups - Watch all your videos anywhere, anytime at FlipShare.com - Comment on videos and read what others have posted in return

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- Import contacts from your email address book - Expanded greetings card library - Enhanced video quality and performance for private email video sharing The FlipShare Mobile app is free and easy to use. You can share any mobile video or photo to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube or directly to friends and family, while on the move. You don’t even need to own a Flip Video camcorder.

Features for Mobile App: - Available for the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Android - with or without owning a Flip video camera - Share up to five mobile videos and/or photos at once to Facebook, Twitter or YouTube - or send directly to friends and family - Post a comment, share, or “favourite” a video with the click of a button - Built-in filters let users quickly navigate and organise their video library - Compatible with iPhone 3G or higher, iPod touch 2nd generation or higher, iPad Requires iOS 4.0.0 or higher, and Android 1.6 or higher

Seagate today announced the availability of its new GoFlex Slim portable hard drive –– a 2.5–inch external drive measuring just 9mm thin, designed for the latest trend of portable, thin, stylish laptops and netbooks.

The new GoFlex Slim performance drive is now available on www.seagate.com, in–store and at select online retailers. A 320GB version of the GoFlex Slim drive can be purchased at US$99.99. It is roughly the width of a pencil and can slide effortlessly into a pocket, purse or messenger bag.

The GoFlex Slim portable drive also allows for use between Windows and Mac computers, interchangeably, without formatting or performance loss.

- Available now at iTunes Store and Android Market

A 320GB version of the GoFlex Slim for Mac drive will be made available in May at Apple retail outlets nationwide for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of US$99.

Seagate launches GoFlex Slim, world's slimmest external hard disk

PROLINK GSM 3G Camera review: because your privacy is just that important

Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/seagate-launches-goflex-slim-world-sslimmest-external-hard-disk/11808.html April 7th, 2011

Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/prolink-gsm-3g-camera-reviewbecause-your-privacy-is-just-that-important/11798.html April 7th, 2011

Seagate has just announced the GoFlex Slim, which claims to be the world's slimmest external hard drive to date. If you are looking for a portable external storage, this one is now available on www.seagate.com, in-stores and selected online retailers.

Do you fancy being able to track what goes on in your home even while you are at work or in school, all with a simple press of some buttons on your 3G-capable mobile phone? If that sounds like the kind of thing you wanted for the longest time already, there may be some good news in the form of PROLINK's PHC-105 GSM 3G camera, which is supposedly capable of doing just that. And leave it to us over at VR-Zone to check out its features and ease of use, so that you do not have to.

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Sony to launch Android Honeycomb tablet device Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sony-to-launch-android-honeycombtablet-device/11807.html April 7th, 2011

Nowadays, the idea of having a personal surveillance camera is no longer a luxury reserved for only the rich. With most people starting to be more conscious about the concept of privacy, it is only natural that some might feel the need to ensure that they know what happens in their rooms or homes, regardless of where they are.

With almost every manufacturers offering an Android tablet device, it is just natural that Japanese company Sony will also follow suit. Well, Sony Ericsson has their range of Android smartphones, including the Xperia Play (formerly known as the PlayStation Phone). The Sony tablet could be available this June.

And that is not all: the usefulness of a surveillance camera can also be extended to working parents who may want to have a convenient means of monitoring a young child left alone at home. After all, nothing beats being able to keep track of one's children in order to ensure that they do not get themselves into any trouble in the absense of a grown-up.

That being said, good surveillance cameras are anything but cheap. And on top of that, most traditional surveillance cameras require a constant video feed to external display devices, which makes them unsuitable for use by most consumers. However, chances are the average consumer who wants to invest in a cheap alternative is not likely to mind the tradeoffs in various aspects such as image quality. With that in mind, we take a look at PROLINK's PHC-105, an affordable GSM 3G surveillance camera which allows users to control their cameras from the comfort of their 3G-capable mobile phones.

Technical specifications GSM frequency

Image format Image resolution Built-in storage capacity Shooting/Viewing angle Motion-detection distance Passive Infrared sensor distance Battery capacity

UTMS 850 (900) / 1900 / 2100 GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 JPEG 160 x 128, 320 x 240, 640 x 480 4GB (internal TF card) 68 degrees (horizontal + vertical) up to 9 metres (daytime), up to 6 metres (night) up to 6 metres 800mAh lithium-ion battery capable of up to 40 hours (standby and disarmed), up to 8 hours (when armed with continous trigerring)

Japan's Nikkei newspaper has reported that Sony is going to launch an Android tablet by the end of summer this year.

According to Sony CEO, the tablet will run Google's Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system and will arrive in the U.S. first, followed by other regions.

The tablet could be Sony's "PlayStation Certified" Tegra 2 'S1' tablet, which is rumored to feature a 9.4-inch display and a flexible "wrap" design.

Intel launches 10 cores Xeon E7 Series (Westmere EX) Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/intel-launches-10-cores-xeon-e7-serieswestmere-ex-/11806.html April 7th, 2011

Intel today announces a total of 18 new Xeon E7 processors; E7-8870, E7-8860, E7-8850, E7-8830 ,E7-8867L, E7-8837, E7-4870, E7-4860, E7-4850, E7-4830, E7-4820, E7-4807, E7-2870, E7-2860, E7-2850, E7-2830, E7-2820, E7-2803 based on the 32nm Westmere EX architecture. The key highlights of the new processors are : Up to 10 Intel速 Microarchitecture based processing cores and 20 processing threads Up to 30MB of shared L3 cache Support for 64 DIMM slots for capable of holding over 2TB of system memory 19

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(4 sockets) Support for 72 PCIe Gen2 lanes 130W TDP (105W TDP for E7-8867L low voltage) The Xeon processor E7-8800/4800/2800 families range in price from $774 to $4,616 in quantities of 1,000.

Intel today announces a total of 18 new Xeon E7 processors; E7-8870, E7-8860, E7-8850, E7-8830 ,E7-8867L, E7-8837, E7-4870, E7-4860, E7-4850, E7-4830, E7-4820, E7-4807, E7-2870, E7-2860, E7-2850, E7-2830, E7-2820, E7-2803 based on the 32nm Westmere EX architecture. The key highlights of the new processors are : • Up to 10 Intel® Microarchitecture based processing cores and 20 processing threads • Up to 30MB of shared L3 cache • Support for 64 DIMM slots for capable of holding over 2TB of system memory (4 sockets) • Support for 72 PCIe Gen2 lanes • Intel® Turbo Boost Technology • Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology • Advanced reliability features • Thermal solution not included in box • 130W TDP (105W TDP for E7-8867L low voltage) The Xeon processor E7-8800/4800/2800 families range in price from $774 to $4,616 in quantities of 1,000.

Below is the full press release : SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 5, 2011 – Enabling IT departments to better manage data-intensive environments through new security and reliability features and recordbreaking performance, a new family of server processors that accelerate mission-critical computing have been announced

by Intel Corporation.

Published by: VR-Zone

The record-setting Intel® Xeon® processor E7-8800/4800/2800 product families build on Intel's previous generation of server processors to set a new standard for high-end computing applications, including business intelligence, real-time data analytics and virtualization.

Strengthening the line of defense for data centers, the new processors also provide advanced security features that ensure greater data integrity.

Based on Intel's leading 32-nanometer (nm) process technology, the new Intel Xeon processors have up to 10 cores with Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology, and deliver up to 40 percent greater performance than the Intel® Xeon® 7500 series processor. Concurrently, a new energy-saving feature reduces the power draw of idle portions of the chip. Beginning today, more than 35 systems based on the Intel Xeon processor E7 family are expected to ship from manufacturers around the world.

"Intel has been changing the economics for mission-critical computing server deployments for more than a decade, and today we are raising the bar yet again," said Kirk Skaugen, vice president and general manager of Intel's Data Center Group.

"The new Intel Xeon processor E7 family delivers record breaking performance with powerful new security, reliability and energy efficiency enhancements. The industry momentum we're seeing for this new server processor architecture is unparalleled in Intel's history. The days of IT organizations being forced to deploy expensive, closed RISC architectures for mission-critical applications are nearing an end."

Record-Breaking, Energy-Efficient Performance The new processor family contains 18 new processors for two-, four- and eight-socket servers, and is expandable to servers with 256 sockets. It also sets more than a dozen world records in performance. A 40 percent improvement in generational compute-intensive performance can enhance the pace and accuracy of applications in such fields as scientific research and financial services where speed is essential. With up to 25 percent better performance with virtual machine3 applications than the current generation, the new chips also hold the industry's highest virtualization performance.

IT managers seeking to achieve greater economic efficiencies can replace 18 dual-core servers2 with a single Xeon processor E7-based server. To help address rising energy costs, the new Xeon chips include Intel® Intelligent Power technology that dynamically reduces idle power consumption of the chip based on the workload while also delivering advanced processor power-management capabilities.

Recognizing the range of compute-intensive applications from climate modeling to real-time business analytics, and the need for uncompromised performance to run them, Intel is offering 10 advanced 10-core versions of the chip, led by the E7-8870, 20

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E7-4870 and E7-2870, all of which reach 2.4 GHz with a TDP (Thermal Design Point) of 130 watts.

The company also announced a version of the chip that combines the benefits of high performance with low voltage, as well as a frequency-optimized version. The 10-core lowvoltage E7-8867L reaches 2.13 GHz with a TDP of 105 watts, while the eight-core frequency-optimized E7-8837 tops out at 2.67 GHz with a TDP of 130 watts.

Intel Xeon processor E7 family based-platforms add a massive 2 Terabyte of memory in a four-socket system supported by the new processors. Most of these chips also contain Intel® Turbo Boost Technology, Intel Hyper-Threading Technology and Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT), which can increase performance as required, ease multitasking and enhance reliability and manageability, respectively.

New Security, Reliability Features

Published by: VR-Zone

faster and provides higher reliability than a desktop computer running similar applications. Support for Error Correcting Code (ECC) memory ensures system reliability by preventing glitches that cause data breaches and downtime, and with small businesses facing a harsher climate of security threats the Xeon processor E3-1200 product family helps ensure the integrity of valuable data with Intel AES-NI and Intel TXT. Today's news follows the recent disclosures about the lowpower, single-socket Intel Xeon processors E3-1260L and E3-1220L targeted for micro servers, and the announcement of the Intel® Xeon® processor E3-1200 product family for workstations.

Product, Pricing Details The Xeon processor E7-8800/4800/2800 families range in price from $774 to $4,616 in quantities of 1,000. The Xeon processor E3-1200 family ranges in price from $189 to $612 in quantities of 1,000.

Intel is bringing its leading security technologies available today in its mainstream Intel® Xeon® processor 5600 series, to the mission-critical server segment with the introduction of platforms based on the Xeon processor E7 family. Intel® Advanced Encryption Standard New Instruction (AES-NI) allows systems to quickly encrypt and decrypt data running over a range of applications and transactions, while Intel® Trusted Execution Technology (Intel TXT) creates a secure platform at boot-up by protecting applications from malicious threats.

Together, these security features can ensure that virtualized environments are more reliably secure when they are launched, migrated or at rest, as well as experience better performance and functionality.

Extensive Industry Support Starting today, system manufacturers from around the world are expected to announce more than 35 Xeon processor E7 family-based platforms. These manufacturers include Bull*, Cisco*, Cray*, Dawning*, Dell*, Fujitsu*, Hitachi*, HP*, Huawei*, IBM*, Inspur*, Lenovo*, NEC*, Oracle*, PowerLeader*, Quanta*, SGI*, Supermicro* and Unisys*.

Numerous enterprise software vendors also support Xeon processor E7 family-based platforms, including IBM*, Microsoft*, Oracle*, Red Hat*, SAP AG* and VMware*.

Ideal Servers for Small Business Intel also announced today the Intel® Xeon® processor E3-1200 family, an entry-level server processor built to meet the unique demands of small business applications, ranging from collaboration tools to storage and back-up applications.

With up to 30 percent greater performance over the previous generation, the Xeon processor E3-1200 product family is 21